Lebanon Valley 5, Muhlenberg 4

LVC Starters
Brown, Garman, Mercer, Farwell, Kudlak, Mowry, Bushong, Wagner, Epple, Torrence

Muhlenberg Starters
D'Alessandro, Larkin, Malloy, Bergenty, Del Moro, Hess, Casella, Zipf, Robbins, DeSenna

How It Happened
Lebanon Valley's offense came to life during a crucial stretch in the fourth quarter and the team's defense held off a late Muhlenberg rally in an exciting 5-4 victory at Arnold Field on Saturday afternoon.

Goalkeeper Cameron Epple picked off a pass attempt by Muhlenberg's Brad D'Alessandro in the final seconds to seal the victory after the Mules (1-3) managed to net three fourth-quarter goals in the game's last six minutes.

Cooper Gerus converted the game-winner for the Flying Dutchmen (2-1) when Alex Bushong forced Muhlenberg's Kevin Bergenty to turn it over deep in his own third. Gerus scooped up the ground ball and took advantage of an out-of-position Kyle Larkin, the Muhlenberg keeper, and fired home LVC's fifth goal of the day with 9:27 left to play.

Austin Farwell scored the first marker of the fourth quarter, a nifty goal little more than a minute prior to Gerus' effort. The lefty drove to his right and and towards the crease before connecting with a strike from his weak side to make it 4-1 Dutchmen with 10:31 remaining.

Alex Bushong tallied the only score of the third quarter when Baker Landon hooked up with him for the team's third goal of the contest at the 5:04 mark.

Prior to a defensive-minded and scoreless second period, the Mules opened the game's scoring when D'Alessandro netted the first of his pair of goals less than a minute into the matchup. Klayton Garman made a pretty move to free up space for the equalizer at the 10:36 mark before Jacques Mercer found a cutting Brett Kudlak for a man-up goal that gave LVC its first lead with 1:33 remaining in the quarter.



Muhlenberg put together a furious fourth-quarter comeback after allowing five straight scores but strong play from defensemen Zane Brown and Bobby Doughty, among others, kept the visitors from completing the rally. Thanks to Epple and his teammates defensive efforts, the Dutchmen recorded their first scoreless quarters of the young season in the second and third.

Turning Point
Little more than a one-minute span in the fourth quarter proved the difference for LVC as Austin Farwell sniped home his first goal of the year at the 10:31 mark before Alex Bushong's caused turnover and Cooper Gerus' ensuing diving score gave the Dutchmen a 5-1 lead that would hold up despite Muhlenberg's best attempt at a late-game rally.



It Was Over When…
It came down to the closing moments but Cameron Epple's interception of a Brad D'Alessandro pass attempt from behind the Lebanon Valley goal with less than 15 seconds remaining put a decisive end to the Mules' comeback hopes.

Top Performer
Cameron Epple – The freshman goalkeeper picked up his second victory of the young season and made 15 saves on the day. Epple was able to control nearly all of his stops, preventing the Mules from earning valuable second-chance opportunities. He also added three ground balls and a caused turnover.

Inside the Numbers
- Muhlenberg was whistled for six penalties, one of which led to a man-up goal for the Dutchmen late in the first quarter.
- LVC played a fairly clean game and was only whistled for a pair of 30-second infractions.
- The Mules outshot Lebanon Valley 34-28 overall and 19-17 in shots on target.
- Cameron Epple made 15 saves for the Dutchmen, compared to 12 by Muhlenberg's Kyle Larkin.
- LVC held the key advantage in ground balls, finishing with a 47-31 edge.
- Klayton Garman got off a team-high six shots for Lebanon Valley, followed by Brett Kudlak's five. Each player netted one score.
- Bobby Doughty had a team-best three caused turnovers for LVC, while Zane Brown added a pair.
- Doughty and Alex Bushong recorded six ground balls apiece. Garman and Jacques Mercer each added five of their own.

Who's Next?
The Dutchmen travel to Elmira for another non-conference matchup next Saturday afternoon.